Migrant labourers’ issue: Maharashtra, Delhi not interested in carrying out court’s orders, says SC

New Delhi: Maharashtra and Delhi have not filed required affidavits with the Supreme Court, regarding court directives on problems and miseries of migrant labourers as a result of the lockdown. Yesterday, the Supreme Court, while hearing the suo moto case, observed that the non-filing of affidavits “clearly indicates they are not interested” in implementing its directions connected with addressing this issue.

The court, in its order of July 31, had specifically directed the states to file an affidavit with regard to operation of the three enactments.

A three-judge bench of Justices Ashok Bhushan, R. Subhash Reddy and M.R. Shah has held:

“When the court passed specific orders directing the states to file affidavits, the court’s intention was to see the working of the aforesaid acts. Non-filing of affidavit clearly indicates that the states are not interested in implementing the aforesaid enactments.”

The court has further held:

“Although various states have filed their replies but the states of Maharashtra and NCT of Delhi have not filed their affidavits in compliance of our order dated July 31. The states of Maharashtra and Delhi are the states where the maximum number of migrants have come and are working.” 

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After going through all the contentions of the state pleaders the Court has granted two weeks to Maharashtra and Delhi, as well as other states which have not complied with its July 31 order, and posted the matter for further hearing after two weeks.

Read the order here;

-India Legal Bureau